E Verify

In January, the Indiana Senate approved a bill that would punish employers for hiring illegal immigrants. We hope that the House does not follow suit. It isn't that we think employers should hire illegal aliens. We don't. One consequence of that, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, is that illegal workers are paid about half the salary received by immigrants with green cards. That drives down pay and makes fewer good jobs available to legal residents. It is clear that the practice by employers of hiring illegal immigrants is bad for several good reasons.

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an Arizona law that severely penalizes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. In a ruling that's likely to embolden Congress and other states, the court declared that Arizona's law fits comfortably within the state's powers. "Arizona hopes that its law will result in more effective enforcement of the prohibition on employing unauthorized aliens," Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote for the 5-3 majority, adding that "the Arizona regulation does not otherwise conflict with federal law."

A new immigration law goes into effect July 1 in Indiana, meaning employers need to be even more vigilant as they hire new employees. Michael Palmer, partner, of Barnes & Thornburg, did a presentation at the Marriott Hotel in downtown South Bend last week in which he gave the nearly 100 in the crowd, mostly human resource reps of various Michiana companies, some major warnings. "I think the big takeaway (from the conference) is the stakes are getting higher and higher with regards to this issue," said Palmer just before his several-hour presentation that included plenty of questions from the audience.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush has signed an executive order requiring contractors and others who do business with the federal government to make sure their employees can legally work in the U.S. Bush signed the order Friday and the White House announced it Monday. The federal government has had some embarrassing moments when illegal workers have been discovered to be working for contractors they've hired, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a news conference. For that reason it's trying to get its own house in order, Chertoff said.

The immigration bill in the General Assembly that aims to punish Indiana employers who hire illegal immigrants should have died in a House committee. It didn't. Instead, changes were made to the version that the Senate previously had passed. Some think the changes were for the better. Some think they weren't. Some think that a compromise of the two versions may end up becoming law. The fact is, the bill in any form cannot achieve its aims and instead could do harm. Until the U.S. Congress reforms federal immigration law so that it is effective, enforceable and humane, states' efforts to do the federal government's job will be meaningless at best and unfairly hurtful at worst.

It remains to be seen whether bill proposals in the Indiana General Assembly that seek to give the state a role in immigration enforcement will become law this year. The bills are not unlike past proposals and address only the enforcement side of the illegal immigration problem, ignoring the question of whether some undocumented immigrants already here should be allowed to apply for legal status. As in previous years, they are being criticized by some for their shortsightedness. The bill proposals would, among other things, require state police to enforce immigration law, and employers to screen for illegal workers using the E-verify system.

With Hoosier unemployment on the rise, a number of state lawmakers say curbing illegal immigration is a key weapon in the fight against a lagging economy. At least six bills in the House and four in the Senate have that in mind. They include measures enabling the Indiana State Police to enforce federal immigration laws, increasing penalties for child labor and document forgery, denying public benefits to undocumented immigrants and requiring employers to check new hires through the federal E-Verify database.

With Hoosier unemployment on the rise, a number of state lawmakers say curbing illegal immigration is a key weapon in the fight against a lagging economy. At least six bills in the House and four in the Senate have that in mind. They include measures enabling the Indiana State Police to enforce federal immigration laws, increasing penalties for child labor and document forgery, denying public benefits to undocumented immigrants and requiring employers to check new hires through the federal E-Verify database.

State Sen. Frank Mrvan's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, like a similar plan in Illinois, opens a real can of worms. Mrvan, D-Hammond, hopes the roads will be safer if illegal immigrants get driver's licenses and insurance. Getting a license means proving the ability to drive well. And insurance would protect other drivers. Mrvan said having licenses available to the state's estimated 200,000 illegal immigrants would ensure all motorists on Indiana know the rules of the road and how to properly operate a vehicle.

WASHINGTON - As Washington debates how to fix America's broken immigration system, the time has come for realistic solutions that will both strengthen national security and boost economic growth. Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of America's leading companies, believes immigration reform is essential for creating a healthier U.S. economy. Overhauling our immigration system will place more resources toward enforcement, produce a more dynamic and skilled labor force, and enable U.S. businesses to compete more effectively in the global marketplace.

State Sen. Frank Mrvan's plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, like a similar plan in Illinois, opens a real can of worms. Mrvan, D-Hammond, hopes the roads will be safer if illegal immigrants get driver's licenses and insurance. Getting a license means proving the ability to drive well. And insurance would protect other drivers. Mrvan said having licenses available to the state's estimated 200,000 illegal immigrants would ensure all motorists on Indiana know the rules of the road and how to properly operate a vehicle.

JOE DONNELLY has represented Indiana's 2nd congressional district since 2006, is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. He lives in Granger. Q. If the economy were again to teeter on the brink of depression, would you support a plea by either President Obama or President Romney for a stimulus effort through infrastructure projects? If so, what type of projects and with what safeguards against waste? If not, what other steps would you support in such a crisis? DONNELLY: To start, I support getting our tax dollars' worth when it comes to transportation funding.

A new immigration law goes into effect July 1 in Indiana, meaning employers need to be even more vigilant as they hire new employees. Michael Palmer, partner, of Barnes & Thornburg, did a presentation at the Marriott Hotel in downtown South Bend last week in which he gave the nearly 100 in the crowd, mostly human resource reps of various Michiana companies, some major warnings. "I think the big takeaway (from the conference) is the stakes are getting higher and higher with regards to this issue," said Palmer just before his several-hour presentation that included plenty of questions from the audience.

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld an Arizona law that severely penalizes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. In a ruling that's likely to embolden Congress and other states, the court declared that Arizona's law fits comfortably within the state's powers. "Arizona hopes that its law will result in more effective enforcement of the prohibition on employing unauthorized aliens," Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. wrote for the 5-3 majority, adding that "the Arizona regulation does not otherwise conflict with federal law."

Worries about the economy and continuing debate over new health care legislation have dominated political conversations during this election year. But the three candidates running for Congress in Indiana's 2nd District don't want issues of immigration and national security to get lost in the mix. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, Republican challenger Jackie Walorski and Libertarian Mark Vogel see eye to eye on several items: They...

It remains to be seen whether bill proposals in the Indiana General Assembly that seek to give the state a role in immigration enforcement will become law this year. The bills are not unlike past proposals and address only the enforcement side of the illegal immigration problem, ignoring the question of whether some undocumented immigrants already here should be allowed to apply for legal status. As in previous years, they are being criticized by some for their shortsightedness. The bill proposals would, among other things, require state police to enforce immigration law, and employers to screen for illegal workers using the E-verify system.

With Hoosier unemployment on the rise, a number of state lawmakers say curbing illegal immigration is a key weapon in the fight against a lagging economy. At least six bills in the House and four in the Senate have that in mind. They include measures enabling the Indiana State Police to enforce federal immigration laws, increasing penalties for child labor and document forgery, denying public benefits to undocumented immigrants and requiring employers to check new hires through the federal E-Verify database.

With Hoosier unemployment on the rise, a number of state lawmakers say curbing illegal immigration is a key weapon in the fight against a lagging economy. At least six bills in the House and four in the Senate have that in mind. They include measures enabling the Indiana State Police to enforce federal immigration laws, increasing penalties for child labor and document forgery, denying public benefits to undocumented immigrants and requiring employers to check new hires through the federal E-Verify database.